Written on 10:55 AM by Sarthak K

WazzHot readers, I earlier posted (long time back) about the first teaser trailer that was released for the 5th Harry Potter movie - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Two days back. a new and much sleeker trailer was released. The best part of this new trailer is you get to see Umbridge too! And you also see Harry and Cho Chang kiss...well almost! You shall also see Sirius Black, Voldemort howling in pain - probably after trying to posses Harry's body, Dumbledore advising Harry on something (oh I hate this character who's playing Dumbledore!), Harry and friends flying on thestrals and lots more! Scenes involving flashes of fire, lightning and evil powers are strung together to build up an exciting finish to the trailer.

Check it out...

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, will be released on July 13, just 8 days before the final Harry Potter book plunges into the muggle world.

Written on 12:23 PM by Sarthak K

Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date, a world which could have water running on its surface. The planet orbits the faint star Gliese 581, which is 20.5 light-years away in the constellation Libra.Scientists made the discovery using the Eso 3.6m Telescope in Chile.

They say the benign temperatures on the planet mean any water there could exist in liquid form, and this raises the chances it could also harbour life.

"We have estimated that the mean temperature of this 'super-Earth' lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius, and water would thus be liquid," explained Stephane Udry of the Geneva Observatory, lead author of the scientific paper reporting the result.

This exoplanet - as astronomers call planets around a star other than the Sun – is the smallest ever found up to now and it completes a full orbit in 13 days. It is 14 times closer to its star than the Earth is from the Sun. However, given that its host star, the red dwarf Gliese 581, is smaller and colder than the Sun – and thus less luminous – the planet nevertheless lies in the habitable zone, the region around a star where water could be liquid!

"Liquid water is critical to life as we know it," said Xavier Delfosse, a team member from France's Grenoble University.

"Because of its temperature and relative proximity, this planet will most probably be a very important target of the future space missions dedicated to the search for extra terrestrial life.

He added: "On the treasure map of the Universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X."

In 1995, two astronomers, also at Geneva, spotted the first extrasolar planet, a term for a planet orbiting a star other than our own. Since then, 227 such planets have been spotted, according to the Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia (http://exoplanet.eu/).

Gliese 581 is among the 100 closest stars to us. Its "red dwarf" monicker comes from the fact that it is only one-third of the mass of the Sun.

Written on 10:50 AM by Sarthak K

Google has snapped up DoubleClick - the granddaddy of online advertising in a $3.1bn (£1.6bn) deal. The cash buyout, the biggest in Google's history, will allow the company to tighten its grip on the advertising market.

Doubleclick helps link up advertising agencies, marketers and web site publishers hoping to put ads online. In recent years, Google has been expanding into print, radio, video, mobile and TV ad markets.

News of the deal comes just six months after Google paid $1.65bn for video sharing website YouTube.

Microsoft, Yahoo and Time Warner were all said to be considering bids for the firm. New York-based Doubleclick has been majority-owned by private equity firm Hellman & Friedman since 2005, when the group paid $1.1bn for its stake.

Google's stock price dipped slightly in after-hours trading as investors wrestled with whether its victorious bid resulted in it overpaying for DoubleClick.

"Google is throwing a lot of money at things and it is not clear that they are spending wisely," analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group said.

"After the negative press that followed the YouTube purchase it looks like investors are looking at this acquisition more carefully. Maybe buying DoubleClick is strategic, but it is not clear they are not wasting money."

Written on 3:23 PM by Sarthak K

WazzHot readers, what a tragic week it has been for me. I could not connect to the internet since the last few days thanks to the pathetic services provided by my ISP - Airtel Broadband.

It all started around Friday when my internet stopped working all of a sudden. I tried all measures but to no use. As an advanced internet user I know the basic first aid that needs to be provided to a PC (pinging, refreshing IPs etc.) in case of a irritable internet connection - which I did. Seeing no results, I used the final weapon as suggested to me by an Airtel Broadband engineer himself - to uninstall and then re-install the driver of the router (Beetel 220BX). Now this has normally done the trick in the past; but this time around I just could not install the router's driver again. Whenever I tried I got the following error:

This is a sample screenshot to show you the kind of error I gotand not the real screenshot of the error I got

The device driver you are trying to install:USB DSL Router Network Devicehas not passed Windows logo testing to verify its compatibilitywith this version of windowsThis hardware will not be installed.Contact your system administrator

I called up Airtel customer care after around 10 non-conclusive attempts to install the driver. In the evening I received an engineer from Airtel. He sat for almost an hour, trying all sorts of permutations and combinations but without any luck. Suddenly he told me that there was some problem with my Windows and that I should format and re-install it.

I was shocked!

It was one thing that he could not fix the problem, and another thing on shifting the blame to something else. My windows was working as good as a healthy 18 year old! My own deduction was that some latest updates from windows might have gone overboard to protect the users from spyware and viruses!

I again called up Airtel customer and the rep was just as unresponsive. For around 5-6 days I kept calling and getting irresponsible replies that they are looking into it or that I should format my windows first!

Anyways, today I was again trying to install the drivers when I noticed something new:

If you havent yet noticed, there is a new component in the system properties-->Hardware tab - that of Driver Signing. I had never seen it before and I guess it was a byproduct of a latest windows update. As soon as I saw it I thought my problem was solved, and I knew I was right! On clicking the Driver Signing button, I got the following dialog box:

The above screenshot explains everything. The selection of the 3 choices above is by default on blocked - and hence I was never able to install the drivers. Now I just selected the topmost option (Ignore - Install the software and don't ask for my approval) and clicked OK. Bingo! I was able to install my router's driver and the net starting working as good as new!

Now I really wonder, how do they train their technical staff at Airtel that they cant even solve a simple problem like this! And I shudder to think how much longer I would have had to wait for them to fix it...

Written on 1:39 PM by Sarthak K

Today I went to watch the first show of "The Namesake" , and I just couldn't wait to pen down a movie review for it!

What's it all about?Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake covers three decades in the life of the Ganguli family. After surviving a horrific train crash, Ashoke Ganguli (Irfan Khan) agrees to an arranged marriage with lively singer Ashima (Tabu) in 1977 Calcutta, before relocating to New York to start a family.

Years pass and the Gangulis' son Gogol (Kal Penn), named after Ashoke's favourite author, grows into a promising architect, married to a rich American girl (Jacinda Barrett). However, Gogol struggles to come to terms with his Bengali heritage, neglecting his parents and even going so far as to hide his given name from his wife and her family.

The GoodDirector Mira Nair brings the same gift for observational detail to The Namesake that she displayed in Monsoon Wedding, aided by sumptuous, richly coloured photography courtesy of cinematographer Frederick Elmes. Some of the shots are simply beautiful, such as an image of snow-covered steps or a tree with red leaves.

The cast are superb: Khan and Tabu make a delightful couple that we really care about, while there's strong support from Sahira Nair (as Gogol's equally Americanised sister). However, the real revelation is Kal Penn (Kumar from Harold and Kumar Get The Munchies), who gives a sensitive, multi-layered performance that is extremely engaging.

The GreatSooni Taraporevala's script is moving and ultimately rewarding, with a strong central theme about exploring the world around us. The only duff note is the casting of Jacinda Barrett, who lets the side down with yet another dull, charisma-free performance. As a result, there's no chemistry between her and Penn, so we don't care all that much about their relationship problems.

Worth seeing?An impressively directed, gorgeously photographed drama that is extremely rewarding. It'll also make you want to a) book a holiday to India and b) call your mother. Recommended.

Beware of girls sitting next to you in the cinema hall who might have the tendency to burst into tears and keep em flowing throughout the 2nd half of the movie. Telling you from personal experience!

Written on 2:30 PM by Sarthak K

Spring is past and the summer months have stepped in. While summers are a boon for some countries, for others its a hellish time trying to protect yourself from sunburns and dehydration. Moreover, one doesn't feel like working in hot and arid weather. So what does one do?

Simple. Take a vacation...

Working all year without a vacation is like driving a car for 12 months without stopping to change the oil. You might keep running, but you're probably heading for a breakdown. A change of pace is essential to help you relax and balance the multiple demands in your life.

Don't tell me you don't have time - you have a job - you're too tired for it! Just go for it and come back refreshed and revitalized to do what you have to! In fact, if you can afford it, take a leisuretime vip holiday. After all, the experience of luxury in an exotic destination of your choice coupled with beautiful weather makes too good a combo deal to miss! All you need is accommodation at a good national or international resort/hotel backed up by a fast and efficient reservation service. Everything else will just follow.

Here are my top 3 travel destinations this summer:

1. Netherlands

Location: Located in Western Europe on the coast of the North Sea. The immediate neighbors of the Netherlands are Belgium and Germany.Capital: Amsterdam.

Tourist Attractions: The birthplace of Vincent Van Gogh is known all over the world for its windmills, dykes and tulip fields. However, this is not all there is to the country, for the Dutch are renowned for their urban planning. The capital, Amsterdam, is a city of contrasts, where cyclists pedal by past gleaming BMWs, and 16th century buildings stand next to modern offices. The Hog Veluwe National Park houses the Kroller Muller Museum that displays the paintings of Van Gogh.

2. Scotland

Location: It is a constituent country of Great Britain, in Western Europe. Capital: Edinburgh

Tourist Attractions: The castles of Scotland, towering against the craggy coastline, are the most enduring symbols of Scotland. The snow capped mountains and the green rolling meadows add to the charm of the region. The lochs, or lakes, dotting Scotland are where the lines between legend and reality blur, exemplified by the de facto state symbol, the Loch Ness Monster.

3. Turkey

Location: Turkey spans both Europe and Asia. It is divided between southeast Europe and west Asia. The Black Sea on the North, the Mediterranean in the South and the Aegean Sea in the West surrounds this country.Capital: Ankara

Tourist Attractions: The vast coastline is dotted with unspoilt beaches. The country offers a Mediterranean climate to tourists wishing to escape the bitter West European climate. The natural beauty of the country, typified by the mountains, lakes and sea is an additional draw for tourists. The rich history of the place, including the Byzantium and Ottoman empires, has enriched the country in the field of arts and culture. The buildings and sculptures of the Roman and Byzantium era are a testimony to the cultural amalgamation that took place in ancient Turkey.

That was Jusy my humble opinion. Its totally your choice where you want to spend your vacations!